Overview

This research is being undertaken because we do not know the best treatment for advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck. These cancers have been treated with a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy in varying combination. When the tumor is inoperable, radiation therapy is used with or without chemotherapy in the hope of curing the tumor.

Recently, it has become recognized that cancer cells are hypoxic. Because of these low oxygen concentrations, many cancer treatments have not been successful. The theory behind this study is that high dose oxygen given to patients prior to chemotherapy and radiation may provide greater killing of cancer cells. The purpose of this study has two main objectives. The primary objective is to determine patient tolerance to each arm of the trial. The second objective is to determine the feasibility of treatment delivery and acute toxicities associated with each regimen.